Just within the past month, detectives uncovered three marijuana grow houses from one end of the county to the other. In Dover, HCSO Patrol District 2 deputies discovered a grow house at 1605 Sidney Dover Rd. in Dover when they responded to a prowler call in the area and smelled what they believed to be marijuana coming from the residence, deputies said. Detectives with the Patrol District 2 Street Crimes Unit responded to the home and discovered evidence of a grow house in plain view, after which the HCSO Special Investigation Division and Tactical Intelligence Detectives executed a court authorized search warrant.

During a search of the residence, detectives located 30 marijuana plants growing in soil filled pots inside a bedroom and several large bags of marijuana packaged for sale, totaling 10.9 pounds.

A loaded Glock 9mm semi-automatic handgun, a Stag Arms .556 Assault rifle and a .22 caliber pistol were also located within the residence. The marijuana has an estimated street value of $10,000.

Joel N. Martinez, 27, of Dover along with Felipe Martinez-Romero Edgar and C. Rico-Martinez, both of Plant City, were arrested and charged while the investigation continues.

At about the same time in Tampa, HCSO detectives also made a bust of another and much larger grow house operation measuring more than 10 times the weight and value in Tampa. HCSO special units along with HCSO Patrol District 1 deputies armed with a search warrant responded at the home of Yohiko Perez-Crump, 37, at 612 Leisure Ave. in Tampa. A total of 27 large marijuana plants and 21 juvenile plants were recovered with a total weight of 130 pounds with an approximate street value of $100,000.

TECO also responded and located an illegal electricity tap and estimated the theft at $4,678. Niurvys Sanchez-Hernandez, 35, of Tampa was also arrested and charged with cultivation of marijuana, possession of cocaine, grand theft and possession of drug paraphernalia. The anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers didn’t stop there, however, leading to another case, this time in Riverview. Following up with a search warrant, Charles Dellinger, 29, of 10602 3rd St., Lot# 3 in Riverview was also arrested and charged with cultivation of marijuana as well as possession of a firearm. HCSO Patrol District 4 deputies, along with special units, recovered 17 marijuana plants along with 30 marijuana plants growing in soil-filled pots.

Detectives located a Glock .45 semi-auto and a Derringer .410 /.45 along with ammunition within the bedroom. For more information about the Sheriff’s office, please visit www.hcso.tampa.fl.us.